recount

1 of 3

verb (1)

re·​count ri-ˈkau̇nt 

recounted; recounting; recounts

transitive verb

: to relate in detail : narrate

recounter noun

recount

2 of 3

verb (2)

re·​count (ˌ)rē-ˈkau̇nt 

recounted; recounting; recounts

transitive verb

: to count again

recount

3 of 3

noun

re·​count ˈrē-ˌkau̇nt 

(ˌ)rē-ˈkau̇nt

: a second or fresh count

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• chart
• chronicle
• describe
• narrate
• recite
• rehearse
• relate
• report
• tell

Examples of recount in a Sentence

Verb (1)

a novel that recounted an American soldier's adventures among the samurai warriors of 19th-century Japan

Noun

The election was very close and the loser demanded a recount.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

From the Super Bowl in New Orleans, former Bears cornerback Charles Tillman recounted the handwritten letter McCaskey sent him in the late 2000s as his infant daughter, Tiana, prepared for a heart transplant. —Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025

Another recounted how a sergeant had called him the n-word. —Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2025

Noun

The review concluded that a more detailed ballot recount would have led to the Gore victory which Lichtman predicted. —Hersh Shefrin, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025

Two subsequent recounts, as requested by Griffin, showed Riggs leading by more than 700. —Lucille Sherman, Axios, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French recunter, from re- + cunter to count, relate — more at count

Verb (2)

re- + count

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1764, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1850, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

recount

1 of 3 verb

re·​count ri-ˈkau̇nt 

: to tell about in detail : narrate

recount an adventure

recount

2 of 3 verb

re·​count (ˈ)rē-ˈkau̇nt 

: to count again

recount

3 of 3 noun

re·​count ˈrē-ˌkau̇nt 

(ˈ)rē-ˈkau̇nt

: a second or fresh count (as of election votes)

Etymology

Verb

Middle English recounten "to tell about," from early French recunter (same meaning), from re- "again" and cunter "relate, count"

Verb

from English re- (prefix) and count